Lock for trunks.



M. R. GOWELL.

LOOK FOR TRUNKS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 21', 1913.

1,083,522. I Patented Jan. '6, 1914.

WITNESSES v I k M [gym/701a @W M 6 y Aiming COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO..WASHINGTON. D. t

MARCUS RAY GOWELL, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

LOOK FOR TRUNKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 6,1914.

Application filed March 21, 1913. Serial No. 756,057.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, MARCUS R. CowELL, citizen of the United States of America, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of I-Iennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locks for Trunks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in locks or fastenings for trunks, while it is equally applicable for use in various other relations or contrivances, as will be noted hereinafter.

The invention has for its object to provide for readily and effectively securing the parts in locked position.

A further object is to provide for automatically snapping the device or closure fastened, in moving the closure or lid into closed position.

A still further object is to provide for locking the fastening or snapping device, as when the closure or lid is in closed position, or to retain such snapping or fastening device unlocked.

A still further object is to provide for readily assembling and disassembling the parts also especially to provide for incasing or housing the resiliently actuating member or spring in readily removable position with respect to the hasp retaining dogs or jaws.

A still further object is to cause the meeting parts, as the closure or lid is moved to closed position, to mutually impinge or so engage that said parts will be automatically brought in true alinement for the proper snapping together thereof and retention in effective position.

A still further object is to carry out the aforesaid ends in a simple, expeditious and effective manner and with facility and economically.

The invention consists of certain instrumentalities and features substantially as hereinafter fully disclosed and defined by the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing is illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention wherein it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made as relate to the detailed construction and arrangement of the parts, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as embraced in the appended claim, and in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of the invention, the parts being in clasped or snapped and locked position; this view also including a showing of the key for the lock which may be used with invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views taken on the lines 22 and 33 of Fig. 1, respectively. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4:4: of Fig. 1.

In carrving out my invention, I suitably provide say, a trunk closure or lid 1, with a pivoted or hinged hasp or clasp 2 and the body 3 of the trunk, with a headed pin or stud 4i, projecting from its outside. The hasp or clasp 2 is provided with an opening 5 near its lower end, the hasp being suitably reinforced or thickened at said end around the lower edge of said opening for obvious reasons; which opening receives the pin or stud 4 of the trunk body, the opening being elongated laterally to receive the laterally extended or elongated head of the pin or stud.

The hasp or clasp 2 is equipped with centrally fulcrumed dogs or jaws 6 having suitably .actuated or manipulated arms 6 the jaws proper having opposed notches 6 in their opposite faces or surfaces at their outer ends to suitably conform to and engage or embrace the pin or stud 4 below its head, said jaws being held by a forcible automatic gripping action upon said pin or stud thus retaining the hasp efiectively upon said pin or stud against detachment, said jaws or dogs being subjected to the pressure of a spring 7, for delivering such automatic gripping action to said jaws or dogs. The spring 7 is wound or coiled about centrally around a stud or projection 8, upon the hasp or clasp 2, the terminals or branches of said spring being sprung against the opposite inner surfaces of the arms of said dogs to forcibly throw the dogs toward each other and the interposed pin or stud. In this connection it will be observed that the arms of the jaws or dogs 6 are undercut as at 9 to receive and form housings for the branches or terminals of the spring 7, thus guarding against its accidental displacement, as well as to provide for the ready assembling of the spring, also the like disassembling thereof, when it may be required to repair or renew the spring, or for other purposes. It will also be noticed that the alining of the meeting parts, as the coupling or snapping action takes place therebetween is effected by the engagement or contact of the tapered or conical head of the pin or stud with the walls or edges of the pin-receiving opening of the hasp, as becomes necessary when the parts of the device as the lid or closure and the trunk-body may become shrunk, expanded or otherwise distorted. It will also be observed that the clasping or snapping action of the hasp upon its receiving pin or stud is automatic as the closure or lid is moved to its closed position, therefore there is required, but a single operation or additional effort for effecting the same more than merely the closing of the lid or closure.

Within the hasp casting, is suitably secured a locking mechanism for the locking of the clasp or hasp looked upon the pin or stud 4, as will now be explained, said locking mechanism including a suitable resiliently supported preferably fiat metal member 10, equipped with opposite outwardly extending projections 11, also with cam-surfaces 12, and into the key opening 13 is inserted a key 14 equipped with wings or bits 15 adapted to engage the cam-surfaces l2. Said key has also a lateral stud or pin 16 adapted to engage a locking plate 17 to move the same out of the way of the plate 10 to allow of the inward movement of the plate 10, and whereby it will be seen that, as the key is suitably actuated, the action of the several members will have the effect to carry the studs 11 into engagement with the arms 6 of the dogs or jaws and accordingly retain the latter in fixed position and the hasp locked.

It will be noted among other purposes for which my invention has been described as being applicable, that it is also capable of use in connection with pocket books, hand bags, Suspender-ends, suit-cases, gates, belts, coat-fastenings, more particularly of the type characterized by the use of a loop spanning the meeting edges of the garment and engaging opposite buttons thereon, etc.

I claim:

A device of the type described, including a hasp member, a headed pin adapted to be received by said hasp, dogs fulcrumed upon said hasp and gripping laterally said pin, under its head, said dogs having divergent manually actuated arms, and a locking mechanism including studs, adapted, by suitably actuating said locking mechanism, to engage said arms of said dogs for their retention in fixed or locked position as against the withdrawal or disengagement of said dogs from said headed pin.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARCUS RAY COWVELL. Witnesses:

HENRY P. ALDEN, U. S. J. DUNBAR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. (1. 

